CROSS COUNTRY

The Huntington cross country teams opened up their season Thursday afternoon at the Manchester University Hokum Karem where the Forester men claimed first while the women finished third.

The Hokum Karem originated at Wabash College over 50 years ago. Legendary Little Giants coach J. Owen Huntsman created the event, which partners two runners together, alternating loops over a one-mile circuit for a total of six miles for women and eight miles for men.

Nick Childs and Kevin Moser teamed up to win the men’s race with an overall time of 42:13.8. The Forester pair averaged a 5:17/mile with Moser’s first mile (4:45.2), proving to be the fastest mile of the day.

Adrien Gentrie and Aaron Hendryx averaged 5:19 per loop for an overall time of 42:32.7 to finish 2nd out of the 22 competing pairs. Rounding out HU’s scoring were Kodi Ahrens and Luke Zeddis, who claimed 5th by posting a 43:04.5 for a 5:23 pace per mile.

CJ Robertson and Elijah Chesterman paired up to claim 15th by averaging 5:43 per mile for an overall time of 45:47.6, while the threesome of Justin Edwards, Cody Fiesel and Justin Ayres clocked in at 49:06.1 for a 6:08/mile and 18th place finish.

As a team, Huntington finished with eight points, followed by Saint Francis (14), Manchester (26), Grace (30) and Defiance (42).

The Forester women tallied 23 points for the third spot behind Manchester (9) and Saint Francis (14). Grace and Defiance had runners compete, but not enough pairs to register a team score.

Olivia Von Gunten and Aspen Dirr topped the Foresters by finishing 6th out of 20 pairs. The twosome averaged 6:36 per mile for an overall time of 39:33.3. Less than 20 seconds later, Erin Manchess and Saige Norris wrapped up the race with a 39:52.1 (6:39/mile) for 8th place.

Bianca Tisdale and Lauren Craig averaged a 6:56/mile to run to a 10th place finish in 41:34.3. The trio of Isabel Hunter, Rachael Smelser and Molly Mitchell alternated miles at a 7:41 pace for an overall time of 46:05.1 for 17th place.

“This was a good start to the season,” said first year coach Nick Johnson. “I saw some good things today that we can build on going forward. We had some solid individual performances, with the men’s team in particular having a good showing.”

HU has a week’s break before competing in the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational on September 7.